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'WE HAVE TO BE PERFECT' - MARTINEZ

Posted on: Fri 20 Aug 2010

Gaffer ready for team to bounce-back against Chelsea on Saturday

Roberto Martinez is ready to put to bed Latics' painful start to the new season this weekend when Chelsea visit the DW Stadium on Saturday.

The gaffer has been happy with the response from his players this week in training and believes they can draw on their experiences from last season in overcoming one of the league's heavyweights;

"Chelsea in my eyes have the strongest squad in the league, but we're ready to react from our disappointment and be competitive in a game why showed last season we're capable of winning," said Martinez.

"They've been working together as a squad for a number of seasons and have had tremendous results.

"Everything you look for in a successful team; experience, strength, power and quality they possess in big amounts.

"You need to be at your very best to compete with that, but our game against them here last season shows we are capable of performing against such an opponent.

"To do that we need to be perfect in everything we do, learning lessons from last weekend's game.

"Firstly it's important not to allow Chelsea to get comfortable, feel themselves and enjoy their football. If they do that it's a matter of time before they hurt you.

"Overall last season gave us the experience of how to play against these sides. But we have to match them off the ball and work really hard. We have enough quality to create chances and score goals, but everything else needs to be perfect as well."

With a couple of absentees the gaffer is confident his squad are ready to step-up to the challenge, learning the lessons from last weekend and getting back on track;

He said; "Everyone in the squad needs to be ready. Last weekend certain aspects were not good enough and we have to understand the importance of working hard for one another on the pitch to win games.

"We're not a team that can afford to carry players on the pitch in winning games. We need 11 players working hard for each other every game and bringing something to the team.

"We have a couple of injuries, but apart from Gary Caldwell and Victor Moses we have a full squad ready to take on the champions.

"Victor pulled his groin during the Blackpool game. He's received treatment this week and as a young man takes less time to recover than most, but Saturday may be a bit too early for him to play."